Making Room for What I Didn’t Choose
—Share 4 Somethings August 2026
Some changes we create ourselves. Other changes may be imposed upon us by other people’s choices. And some changes happen to us because, well, that’s just how life works.
This month, my focus for my yearly word Shift has been on accepting the last two kinds of changes—the unchosen shifts.
I’ve tried to consciously notice how I respond to unchosen changes—ignore them? fight them? judge them?—and see what happens if I simply accept them before deciding what to do next.
Each month I link my Share 4 Somethings post with Jenn.
I also share here my One Second Everyday video from the previous month.
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1. Something I Love
- REDISCOVERING WHAT I LEFT BEHIND
When I was younger, I did a lot of cross-stitching. Somewhere along the way I stopped. It’s been years since I’ve done any kind of needlework.
So I didn’t know how much I would still enjoy it until I attended my daughter Jenna’s embroidery workshop at a local flower farm near us.
With a piece of lavender in front of us picked straight from the farm, Jenna did a great job leading us to create our own lavender needlework piece. I was surprised that I especially liked creating alongside other people because typically I only do creative projects on my own. I’m hoping to attend her September workshop, too.
Doing embroidery again showed me that not every shift has to be resisted. Some changes can simply remind us that we can return to something we once laid down, in a new season and in a new way.
my imperfect but finished embroidery
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2. Something Sustaining Me
- UNEXPECTED TIME WITH FRIENDS
Sometimes I make intricate plans weeks ahead of time. Other times, things just happen. That’s how this month worked out with friends.
With no more than a day or a week’s planning, I ended up getting one-on-one meals with six different friends this month. And I loved it!
I appreciated the conversations with each friend, hearing their unique goings-on in their lives and learning to see the world a little differently through their eyes.
I’m grateful the month unfolded this way without my foreknowledge (my introverted self might have nixed such a crazy plan as much too much!).
Sometimes making room for short-notice gatherings allows us to appreciate the gifts from spontaneity we might otherwise have avoided.
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3. Something Carrying Me Forward
- NEW PLACES FOR A CHANGE OF PERSPECTIVE
My husband Jeff and I took a short trip to St. Augustine, Florida, last week, and discovered it wears the “oldest” title in many areas in the continental United States: oldest continuously inhabited European-established settlement, oldest masonry fort, oldest public street, oldest known planned Black settlement, and much more.
It was a lot of new knowledge about old things.
Castillo de San Marcos, the oldest masonry fort in the continental United States, built 1672-1695
Dr. King preached several times at St. Paul AME Church in St. Augustine, FL, in the 1960s, originally founded in 1873
We have a different kind of trip planned for this month: a return to fill up our spirits at the annual Wild Goose Festival.
I keep finding that when I put myself in different places and among different people, my world expands in ways I couldn’t plan for or intentionally choose.
A change of scenery often sparks a shift in perspective—and sometimes that’s exactly what I need, even when I don’t realize I need it.
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4. Something I’m Making Space For
- CHANGES ALREADY UNDERWAY
This one isn’t as fun.
I’m trying to learn more about data centers.
Along with the rest of the world, data centers are becoming more of an issue in my state of Alabama. I want to understand them better so I can make educated decisions when I have opportunities to vote or speak up.
We’ll be electing a new governor on November 3. One candidate has announced he’s eager to multiply our data centers while the other candidate suggests we slow down and decide on guard rails first.
A few weeks ago I attended a local presentation at my library on the environmental impact of data centers. I learned that data centers are already operating in my area, with additions being considered. I also learned what questions to ask to better compare the different types of centers.
The world continues to shift in this direction, whether we’re ready or not. (I’m not.)
Accepting change doesn’t mean we have to like the change. But it’s helpful to face what’s happening so when we do have choices to make, we can choose wisely.
What are you making room for that you didn’t choose? What was a highlight of your August? Share in the comments.
I’m linking at these blog parties
This world is changing so rapidly, Lisa, sometimes I wonder if I can make the pivot, or shift, as you would say. It’s good that you’re taking time to learn more about data centers as I think they’re an inevitable part of the future. As always, I loved your video, too. That little guy just won’t stop growing, will he? Blessings!
data centers do feel like the future, don’t they?
Very pretty embroidery! I used to do a full crafting day with others until the store that hosted it closed down in January. I found crafting beside others very motivating. In Alberta data centres are being debated regularly, especially since approval for Meta to build an AI data centre in our province. Interesting times indeed!
As always, I love your video, Lisa. 🙂 I can’t believe how much your grandson is growing! I appreciate your insight – “Accepting change doesn’t mean we have to like the change. But it’s helpful to face what’s happening so when we do have choices to make, we can choose wisely.” Love and blessings to you!
Your 1 second videos are a highlight for me, Lisa. I keep saying ‘maybe next year I’ll do that.’
Thanks for sharing these sweet snippets of your active, thoughtful life, friend.
I like your hair longer! I liked it short as well. I saw your grandson’s was longer, too–and curly!
I used to do a lot of cross stitch and needlework, too, and would sometimes change colors from what was in the instructions. But it never occurred to me to make my own design from something I saw. What a neat idea. I agree, too, about it being fun to “create” with other people.
Sometimes impromptu or short-notice get-togethers are fun without all the planning that goes into other get-togethers.
We had good times with my son visiting for about ten days in mid-August, then my step-father, two sisters, and a nephew from TX just left after a short visit. There’s always such a mix of emotions–missing them yet enjoying getting back to the routine. I guess we appreciate our routines more when we get away from them for a bit.
what a thoughtful and insightful list. You really are listening to your soul! your sentence: notice how I respond to unchosen changes—ignore them? fight them? judge them?—and see what happens if I simply accept them before deciding what to do next. reminded me what my spiritual director once told me: pay attention to what jars your spirit? either good or uncomfortable. That is telling you something. Pay attention to your tears…. good advice.
Such a lovely post, I always enjoy your videos Lisa. I agree we can pick up that which we may have needed to place aside for awhile & enjoy it once again. Recently I’ve found that with art again.
I’m all with you on Mega Data centres they have popped up here without anyone being consulted & they’re absolutely huge! Requiring a massive draw on our power & water supply (of which Australia has a very limited amount of each for it’s own population)! And when the power grid can’t keep up these centre’s burn thousand of gallons of diesel (also in short supply due to the war in the Midle East) to keep these behemoth centre’s going.
They have built them in main suburbs (they operate 24x7x365) & on prime food producing properties all without any consultation of the local or wider population!
There is a huge outcry here as our politicians have bowed down to international pressure (?) as these centre’s are owned by an international govt & company! All for the purpose of pushing AI globally!
Definitely something we need to have great concern about, a clear knowledge & discernment. As we’re being pushed down a path that very few of us here actually want to traverse.
Blessings, Jennifer
The piece captures how unexpected shifts can feel like a loss of agency, yet the writer keeps returning to the idea of making room without abandoning response. That detail about not giving up the ability to respond stood out because it reframes acceptance as an active, not passive, stance. It made me think about how many changes arrive uninvited and still demand a kind of deliberate attention. For anyone drawn to surviving unpredictable waves and adapting on the fly, poke survivor offers a similar test of response under pressure.